Gov. Phil Bryant’s proposals totaling more than $12 million to enhance access to health care for uninsured Mississippians are pending in the Legislature.

But some question whether the governor’s proposals are the most efficient use of scarce state funds.

Legislation in the Senate would provide $3.2 million to provide grants to federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics while a House proposal would provide $4.8 million for the two sets of clinics designed to provide health care to the poor and indigent.

Nicole Webb, a spokeswoman for Bryant, said, “The governor’s intention with both of these bills is to increase access to primary health care services across the state. Many of the patients served by these clinics have incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty limit, and many are also uninsured.”

The Republican Bryant and the House and Senate leadership have been steadfast in refusing to expand Medicaid to cover people earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level as is allowed under the federal Affordable Care Act.